Genesis 37 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Genesis 37

Joseph’s Dreams

37:1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.¹ 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.² Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels³ of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Footnotes

[1] 37:3 See Septuagint, Vulgate; or (with Syriac) a robe with long sleeves. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain; also verses 23, 32
[2] 37:20 Or cisterns; also verses 22, 24
[3] 37:28 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

Commentary

The final 14 chapters deal with the life of Joseph, born 30.22-24, shortly before Jacob left Laban. Verse 2 comments that this is the account of Jacob, although clearly Joseph is more prominent. Jacob remains a significant figure.

Since chapter 12, the writer of Genesis has recounted the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, passing neatly from each to the next. The events are not in strict chronological order, but rather deal with each character in turn. From the birth of Abraham to the death of Joseph is a period of around 300 years.

Joseph is the seventh man in Genesis to be listed as a man of faith in Hebrews 11.

Further, he is probably the most detailed "type" of Christ anywhere in the Bible, typifying both the sufferings and glory of Christ. Jonathan Edwards (The History of Redemption, p66), writes; ’The children of Israel were saved by Joseph, their kinsman and brother, from perishing by famine; as He that saves the souls of the spiritual Israel from spiritual famine is their neat kinsman, and one that is not ashamed to call them brethren. Joseph was a brother, that they had hated, and sold, and as it were killed; for they had designed to kill Him. So Christ is one that we naturally hate, and, by our wicked lives, have sold for the vain things of the world, and that by our sins we have slain. Joseph was first in a state of humiliation; He was a servant, as Christ appeared in the form of a servant; and then was cast into a dungeon, as Christ descended into the grave; and then when he rose out of the dungeon, he was in state of great exaltation, at the king’s right hand as his deputy, to reign over all his kingdom, to provide food, to preserve life; and being in the state of exaltation, he dispenses food to his brethren, so give them life; as Christ was exalted at God’s right hand to be a prince and saviour to His brethren, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious, and them that hated, and had sold Him.’

v2: We meet Joseph, the man of 17 years, caring for the sheep with his brothers. Four brothers are mentioned; Dan, Naphtali, sons of Bilhah, and Gad and Asher, sons of Zilpah. (See 35.25-26) We are not told what they did wrong, but we see that Joseph brought a "bad report" about them. As we shall see, this doubtless contributed to the brothers' hatred of Joseph.

v3: Joseph is the father's beloved son, picturing Christ. See Matt 3.17; Col 1.13; 1 Pet 2.9; 1 John 3.1. Like Samuel and the Lord Jesus, there was a robe, a sign of deep affection. We see that the father honoured the son; see John 5.36-37.

v4: Entwined with the theme of beloved son is the theme of hated son and reject servant. Here is the jealousy, which later led to the plot to murder Joseph. See John 1.11; 15.24.

v5-11: Joseph's dreams. He hears the word of God, as he did later when in prison. God spoke in dreams (see 20.3; 40.8). The purposes of God are revealed to Joseph, and he is central in them; see Eph 1.9-10; Heb 1.2. Joseph's exaltation is predicted, as is Christ's; Phil 2.9-10; Heb 1.9 both quote Old Testament scriptures fulfilled in Christ's exaltation. See v8 prefiguring Luke 19.14.

Joseph is seen here as the outspoken young man, and earns criticism from his brothers. Joseph may have been trying to get his brothers to respect him more, but the result was more jealousy (see Matt 27.18); he does not promote peace by what he said. Yet the pieces are falling into place for his later life in Egypt. Note that Jacob, now teachable and humble, weighs up the words given (v11). We should be thoughtful when we bring God's word to others.

v13-14: Joseph is involved in the family. He is here the willing servant and messenger of the father. See Is 42.1; Luke 4.18; Heb 1.1-2. He came to his own; John 1.11

v18: The plot on Joseph's life. Jesus Christ suffered the conspiracy of men; Matt 26.3-4. Those he came to help were the ones who attacked him.

v19-20: The plan to kill him, to frustrate his dreams; see Matt 21.38. This is the result of the brothers' envy and hatred.

v21-22: Reuben tries to rescue Joseph; see Luke 23.20-22. Like Nicodemus, he urges restraint (see John 7.50-51). He thus risks being mocked by the others.

v23-32: The attack on Joseph. The original plan was changed when the opportunity to make money was presented. Again, we see fulfilment in Christ, and again we see God's plan taking shape as Joseph is taken to Egypt. Christ's coat was taken (John 19.23), He was mistreated (Matt 26.56),

He was sold for money (Matt 26.14-15); contrast the attitude of the woman in Matt 26.6-9, which earned the Lord's approval; note too that we are bought at a price (1 Cor 6.19-20).

v26-27: Judah's brotherly "love" restrains further evil, such that Joseph is sold, and not killed, although the deception is presented to Jacob that he had in fact been killed. Here Joseph's life is preserved.

v28: The narrative refers to Midianites and Ishmaelites, who are probably the same tribe; a nomadic people descended from Abraham. 20 shekels is the price of a slave.

v33: "Joseph is dead"; like Jesus, lies are told about his body (Matt 28.11-15). For nearly 20 years the family believed this (42.38; 44.20)

v35: Jacob, like Rachel, refuses to be comforted.

v36: Joseph is taken to Egypt; Christ was made sin for us (2 Cor 5.21) For our part, we are in the world, and are commanded to maintain a testimony to God in it.